I Became a Plague Doctor in a Romance Fantasy Novel

Episode 79. Goldfish (2)

Episode 79. Goldfish (2)

The goldfish corpse went into the planter next to my desk. Maybe it’ll be reborn as an orchid next life.

We just succeeded in refining penicillin. I really wish Istina understood the grand scope of the experiment we just pulled off.

“It’s not black magic, Istina.”

“You sacrificed a goldfish, didn’t you?”

She doesn’t seem to get it at all.

“No, I used the goldfish to gauge the acidity of the acetic acid buffer solution.”

“What’s a buffer solution, and what’s acidity?”

I considered my answer a little more.

The mixture of acetic acid powder and acetic acid solution – the acetic acid anions from the powder receive the hydrogen ions coming from the acetic acid.

That’s how the fluctuation range of hydrogen ion concentration decreases. This is called an acetate buffer solution. Right now, I don’t have a way to measure pH, so I used the goldfish to verify the weak acidic state.

There was another reason I used a goldfish. The point where a goldfish dies is probably the limit of what’s safe for a person to ingest.

Probably?

At least that’s what I thought.

I don’t know what kind of impurities are in the chemical sample, and if a mixture at a concentration that kills a goldfish might be dangerous for a person, I need to see when the goldfish dies and stop there.

There’s also the problem that penicillin denatures if the acidity gets too high. Long story short, there were three good reasons to kill the goldfish.

Istina still looked like she didn’t get it.

“Fine, let’s just call it black magic.”

“Mmm.”

Judging by Istina’s reaction, it’s best not to expect anything from the Alchemy Department.

The other researchers who took the blue mold strains probably aren’t any different. It took 20 years for the US to mass-produce it in the 20th century.

People who don’t know much can’t achieve results in a short period. Even if they know about penicillin, they lack the useful background knowledge.

It seems like the infrastructure necessary to refine penicillin just doesn’t exist. It’s not an issue with alchemy or crystallization magic.

I thought about it a little more.

“Maybe we have to make the penicillin ourselves, instead of just writing a paper.”

If we publish a paper, but no one understands it or can replicate it, it won’t help.

“Istina, what do you think?”

“Is that even possible?”

“We can get the money, though.”

It’s the scale that’s the issue. It’s obvious that we need to make a lot of penicillin to help a lot of people. How much money and manpower will we need?

It’s something to think about.

Still, with this, the process for refining penicillin is mostly figured out, right?

Just filter it well to remove the solid matter and the mycelium, then add ammonium sulfate to the acetic acid solution to make precipitate.

We just did it successfully, after all.

There are many means we can use. It’ll get complicated if we ask for facility investment funds instead of research funds. But I guess I can ask Prince, Mint, or maybe Violet and figure it out.

Even with the current results, there’s enough to write a paper. The problem is this:

Judging by Istina’s reaction, can we expect healers in this world—who can’t even grasp basic acid-base concepts—to achieve anything?

It doesn’t look promising. But that’s not the point right now. If I want penicillin made quickly, I have to do it myself.

“Istina. Listen closely.”

“Yes.”

“Penicillin is a protein polymer, so it denatures in high temperatures and strong acids. That’s why we couldn’t boil it, and why we had to manage the acidity within a specific range. That’s also why we used goldfish.”

“Yes.”

“Since it’s a medicine for people, it has to be safe.”

“I don’t understand.”

Istina reached out a finger.

“I understand that penicillin is the substance we’re extracting. But I don’t know what a protein is, I don’t know what a strong acid is, and I don’t know what acidity is.”

It’s not that the terms don’t exist. It’s just that the concepts related to them aren’t clear in Istina’s mind.

“Even if others don’t, you have to know.”

“Yes.”

“Think about it some more. Looks like there’s no choice.”

From the periodic table to the physics of electrons, so much is beyond Istina’s understanding. More than meets the eye.

I returned to my lab desk, and picked up a pen to write a letter. Start with that guy first.

– To His Imperial Highness, the Noble Prince of the Empire,

– I am writing to inform you that I have recently developed a new medicine capable of treating the vast majority of infectious diseases.

– But it’s not easy to make, the principle behind it’s terribly complex, so even after presenting at a huge conference, there wasn’t any real progress.

– So. I want to raise funds to build facilities for the production of this drug, mass produce it, and benefit the empire’s people widely.

– From Professor Asterix.

This should be enough for the letter to the prince.

For Violet…

– Violet. If you have money, invest in this.

– From Professor Asterix.

Yeah, sending these letters out should do it.

Now I need to get the word to Professor Wolfram of the Alchemy Department. Come to think of it, I’ve never actually seen the professor in person.

Last time I went, I only saw Luciana, the graduate student. The one who looked a bit miserable.

“Hello, Professor Wolfram.”

“Good day.”

Professor Wolfram was just as the rumors said, an elderly grandfather of a professor. And sure enough, his hair wasn’t white.

Come to think of it, he might not actually be that old. Maybe it’s just from eating too much arsenic that he looks old.

“A few days ago, I spoke a bit with Ms. Luciana. I came to talk about making a new medicine, and trying to figure out how to refine it into a pill.”

“I’ve heard a little about it.”

“We, on our side, have succeeded in refining a very small amount, for now. So I wanted to share information, and prepare a mass production process.”

Professor Wolfram nodded.

“Ms. Luciana will be taking charge of it.”

“And the professor?”

“Ms. Luciana will do well, and since the professor has succeeded in refining it, I’m not sure if my participation is needed. I’m a bit busy these days.”

I stopped talking.

If they knew what we’re making, they wouldn’t say that. It’s ridiculous to tell them to participate just because they could make a boatload of money, right?

“You really won’t participate?”

“No.”

“Oh… okay, I understand.”

If a provincial governor doesn’t want to do something, that’s that.

I slowly rose from my seat.

“Ah, what a shame. Then, I’ll consider this project to be Ms. Luciana’s individual assignment.”

“Professor Asterix, take care.”

Professor Wolfram… Did that guy have something bad happen? That was strange.

He’ll regret it later, big time. Whether it’s from not making his mark on history, or, to put it more bluntly, from missing out on a huge money-making opportunity.

I left Professor Wolfram’s lab.

I should talk to Ms. Luciana, or some other alchemists later. I can definitely find someone more helpful.

The day after I sent the letter, a reply from the Imperial family arrived right away. Well, it’s not that far from here to the Imperial Palace, I guess.

– Imperial Letter. Handle with Care.

It was Imperial documentation, with a stamped warning. A letter sent by the Imperial Prince of the Empire.

– I was wondering why you sent a letter with such a polite tone, but after reading it. Now you’re even treating me like a wallet. You’re doing all kinds of crazy things.

The prince’s letter started off prickly, as usual.

– Separately, when you said you were leaving the Imperial Court, I thought we were losing talent. But there were officials who highly praised the fact that you’re still thinking about ways to benefit the Empire, even outside its walls.

– I’m positively reviewing things with someone I know, so come next month and we’ll talk. I’m not sure if this is a request for research funds or investment capital. It doesn’t sound like something that can be solved with the current research budget.

This time, the intention wasn’t just to ask for research funds. To efficiently produce and distribute medicine, it was beyond the scope of research – I was thinking of creating a kind of company.

I’m not sure if they’ll cooperate that far.

– So you’re saying you want to establish a company with government stake? But if that’s the case, why not just open a hospital, why bother making medicine?

– Anyway. Keep up the good work. Oh, and when you come to the Imperial Court, think of a proper way to explain to the officials what you discovered.

I folded the prince’s letter. For some reason, there were a few digs at me in the beginning, but still, wasn’t that a positive review?

Since Violet is also at the Imperial Court right now, her letter would have arrived at the same time. I unfolded and read Violet’s letter next.

– It’s Violet.

– Is this about investment? Not a request for the Imperial Court to move and send research funds?

– I have plenty of money these days. Sounds good!

I folded Violet’s letter, a strange unease washing over me. She’s always been a hard person to predict, but…

This one. Why does she have so much money?

Violet is someone who does so many weird things that whatever she says, I can’t help but worry first. Did she win big at some gambling den?

Well…

I’ll have to talk to her face to face. It’s also a problem not to trust people this much. It’s not like her salary was small, she could have been saving up diligently.